A model rocket is launched from a roof into a large field. The path of the rocket can be modeled by the equation y= -0.06x^2 + 9.6 x + 5.4 where X is the horizontal distance, in meters from the starting point on the roof and y is the height in meters of the rocket above the ground. How far horizontally from its starting point will the rocket land round your answer to the nearest hundredth.

Question

• 4.30 m
• 160.56 m
• 161.12 m
• 13.94 m

Answer 1

With a tricky question like this (that does not factor easily), use the quadratic formula to solve for the zeros (the place the rocket hits the ground)
a = -.06
b = 9.6
c = 5.4
x = (-b + or - the square root of (b^2-4ac)) all divided by (2a)